How does queer temporality challenge teleological life planning?
Teleology is the belief that everything has a purpose or goal, including human beings' lives. Life planning is when people think about their future goals and make plans to achieve them. Many people plan for things like marriage, having children, retirement, and so on. This way of thinking can lead to disappointment if unexpected events happen.
Someone might plan to get married before they turn 30 but never find someone they want to marry. Queer temporalities are different from this traditional way of thinking because they don't assume there will be a final destination or outcome. Instead, they focus on the present moment and exploring new possibilities.
Queer temporality challenges teleological life planning by questioning the idea that life should have a predetermined path. It suggests that we can experience pleasure and fulfillment without following a specific plan or timeline. This viewpoint encourages people to embrace uncertainty and live in the present, which can be empowering.
It also means that we may need to rethink how we approach relationships, intimacy, and sexuality differently than we would otherwise.
One example of how queer temporality affects relationships is polyamory. Polyamory involves being in more than one relationship at once and recognizing that each relationship is unique and complex. Someone who practices polyamory might not see the need to follow society's norms regarding monogamy or marriage. They might value flexibility and spontaneity instead of predictability and commitment. This can be difficult for many people to understand, especially those who believe in long-term monogamous relationships.
Another aspect of queer temporality is fluid sexuality. Fluid sexuality refers to having a varied sexual identity over time, rather than identifying as one gender or orientation permanently. A person with fluid sexuality might change their mind about their identity throughout their life or even switch between several genders/orientations. Society often assumes that sexuality is fixed, but queer temporality rejects this assumption. Instead, it emphasizes that we are all constantly changing and evolving.
Queer temporality challenges traditional views on life planning by focusing on the present moment and embracing uncertainty. While this can be liberating, it requires us to rethink our expectations for relationships and sexuality. By considering different ways of living and loving, we can expand our understanding of what is possible and find fulfillment outside of conventional paths.
How does queer temporality challenge teleological life planning?
Queer temporality challenges teleological life planning by disrupting the linear narrative of time that is often associated with heteronormativity and cisgenderism. Instead, it emphasizes the fluidity and multiplicity of temporal experiences, highlighting the ways in which time can be nonlinear, circular, cyclical, or even simultaneous.